Spray nozzle



July 11, 1961 J. J. ROSENKRANZ SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Aug. 13, 1959 IN VENTOR JULES J. ROSENKKANZ ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,991,942 SPRAY NOZZLE Jules J. Rosenkranz, New York, N. assignor to Lafayette Brass Manufacturing Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 833,584 1 Claim. (Cl. 239-262) This invention relates generally to spray nozzles particularly adapted for lawn and garden use.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved nozzle that is readily adapted for use either as a turret spray head for a reaction sprinkler or as a nozzle for use with a conventional hose.

Another object is to provide a relatively simplified valve assembly means for use in the spray nozzle of this invention and a novel means for adjusting the same to regulate the kind of spray desired.

The above objects and other features and advantages of this invention are attained by a nozzle having a main body comprising a stem with a nozzle barrel obliquely connected thereto. According to this invention the stem is provided with an integrally threaded portion which is adapted to receive a hose coupling, or, when used as a turret spray head on a reaction sprinkler, a locking plug as will be hereinafter described.

Disposed within the barrel is a uniguely arranged, integrally formed valving means for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough.

Adjustment of the valving means is attained in accordance with this invention by a novel pin and helical groove arrangement that effects a camming action which provides longitudinal displacement of the same when the valving means is rotated.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings adjacent the fluid inlet of the stem is provided to render the nozzle readily adapted for use as a turret spray head. Also indices are provided at the base of the stem to function as a memory guide for facilitating rapid angular positioning of the nozzle when used as the turret spray head with respect to the arm for varying the area to be covered, and also the speed at which the sprinkler arms rotate.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the nozzle is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and positive in operation.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the improved spray nozzle when employed as a turret spray head on a rotating sprinkler.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the nozzle in combination with a garden hose.

FIG. 4 is a detail side view of the integrally formed valving assembly.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the valving assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the improved nozzle of the present invention is illustrated as a turret spray head 20 adapted for use as a reaction type nozzle of a rotating sprinkler 21. Reaction type sprinklers comprise essentially of a stand 22 supporting a rotatable hub 23 adapted for receiving the fluid to be sprayed. Connected to the hub 23 in fluid flow relationship are one or more conice duits or cross arms 24 which conduct fluid from the hub 23 to the reaction spray nozzle assembly 20.

According to this invention the assembly 20 comprises a turret ring 25 provided on one end with a seat 26 for receiving a washer 27. If desired, a similar seat and washer may be provided on the other end thereof. The wall of the ring 25 is provided with an opening 28 therethrough which is sized to snugly receive the discharge end 24A of arm 24.

Rotatably mounted in the turret ring 25 is a spray nozzle 29. As shown, the nozzle comprises a main body having an upright stern portion 30 and an integrally formed nozzle barrel 31 obliquely connected thereto. The stem 30 is provided with a bore 32 which intersects the bore 33 of the nozzle barrel 31 intermediate the ends thereof.

The base 30A of stem 30 has a reduced portion which is adapted to loosely fit within the turret ring 25, the reduced portion 30A being internally threaded. Circumferentially spaced about the reduced portion 30A are a plurality of openings 34 which form the fluid inlet to the stem 30 of the nozzle. hus it will be noted that regardless of the angular position of the nozzle in azimuth, one of the openings 34 or a portion thereof will always be in open communication with the opening 28 of the turret ring 25 through which the fluid flows. A flanged plug 35 threaded in the stem 30 seals the bore 32, and locks the nozzle in azimuth.

.Referring to FIG. 2, the bore 33 of the barrel is provided with a reduced portion at 36 to define a discharge orifice 37. In order to regulate the amount of fluid or water and the kind of stream to be formed, a novel valving means is provided. In accordance with this invention the valving assembly is formed as an integral unit 38, preferably of molded plastic. A polystyrene plastic is known to be suitable for molding such a valving unit;

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the valving assembly or unit 38 comprises a cylindrical portion 39 which is sized to snugly engage the inner surface of the barrel or bore 33. As shown portion 39 substantially seals the end of the barrel or bore 33 remote from the orifice. In order to positively seal against fluid leakage, the cylindrical portion 39 is provided with an annular groove 45) in which an 0 ring seal 41 is seated.

Connected axially to the cylindrical portion 39 and extending toward the orifice 37 is a valve stem 42 having a reduced neck portion 43 in the vicinity of the orifice 37. To center the stem 42 within the bore 33, are a plurality of radially extending fins 44.

Connected to the stern neck 43 is a valve head 45. As shown the valve head 45 is provided with a diverging conical surface 46 upon which the fluid impinges on discharge to form a conical spray.

In order to adjust for the degree of fineness, means are provided for longitudinally adjusting the valve head 45 relative to the orifice 37. According to this invention this is readily attained by a pin and groove or slot as sembly arranged to eifect a camming action upon rela tive rotation between the valve assembly and nozzle body.

In the illustrated embodiment this is readily attained by diposing a groove 47 in the surface of the cylindrical portion 39 of the valve assembly 38 The groove 47 is shaped so as to traverse a segment of a helix or a helical are at a given pitch. While the groove 47 illustrated transcribes an arc of only it will be understood that the groove can be extended through any desired number of degrees. If desired the groove 47 may extend about the cylindrical portion 39 more than 360 by forming several convolutions thereon.

Extending radially inwardly of the barrel bore 33 is a pin 48, the inner end of which is receivable in the groove 47. Thus it will be apparent that upon rotation 3 of the valve assembly 38 the camming action of the pin 48 and groove 47 will effect longitudinal adjustment of the valve head relative to the orifice. Thus by the restriction of the orifice due to the adjustment of the valving member, the fineness of the spray is readily controlled. To. facilitate rotation of the valve assembly 38 a hand adjusting knob 49 is formed as part of the valve assembly. If desired the groove may be formed on the inner surface of the barrel, and the pin located on the valve member.

In operation the turret spray head 20 can be readily adjusted in any desired angle in azimuth. For this reason the area to be covered by the spray can be readily controlled by the angular relationship between the nozzle barrel and its connecting arm. To adjust the nozzle in azimuth, the plug 35 is backed out of the stem 3%, thus rendering the stem 30 free to rotate within the turret ring 25. When the nozzle is pointed in the proper direction in azimuth, the position thereof is fixed by tightening the flange plug 35 against the turret ring. To facilitate positioning the nozzle to regulate the area of coverage, indices 50 are scribed in the base of the stern. Thus the indices 50 function as a memory guide to aid in repositioning the nozzle for a known range.

The nozzle 29 described is constructed so as to render it readily adaptable for use with a hose 60 as illustrated in FIG. 3. In order to convert the spray head 20 described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, to a hose nozzle 61 of FIG. 3, it is only necessary to unscrew the plug 35 from the base of the spray head. This permits the spray head to be removed from its turret ring 25. Thus the stem 30 is readied to receive the male coupling on the end of the hose. As a modification, not shown, the stem may be formed with external threads, instead of as shown,

'in which case it would be necessary to connect a female coupling or plug thereto.

When the spray head, as illustrated, is employed as a hose nozzle, the male coupling of the hose must be threaded into the bore 32 of the stem an amount sufiicient to used on a reaction sprinkler comprising a turret ring having a fluid inlet opening, a body member having a stem rotatably mounted in said turret ring for 360 movement in azimuth, said stem having a bore extending therethrough, said stem having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openingsfor registering the bore of said stem in communication with said fluid opening of said ring, a nozzle barrel having a bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof, the axis of said stem being angularly disposed relative to the axis of said barrel so that the bore of said stern intersects the bore of said barrel intermediate the ends thereof, the bore of said stem having a threaded portion defining a fluid inlet and the bore of said barrel at one end thereof defining a fluid discharge orifice, valving means reciprocally mounted in the bore of said barrel for regulating the flow of fluid through said orifice, said valving means including a cylindrical portion sized to snugly fit the other end of the bore of said barrel, a reduced valve stem adapted to extend toward said orifice, and a valve head connected to said stem, means for centering said reduced stem within the bore of said barrel, mean adjusting the position of said valve head relative to said orifice to control the flow of fluid therethrough, said adjusting means including a groove traversing a segment of a helix disposed in the outer surface of said cylindrical portion, a pin projecting radially inwardly of said barrel, means connected to said cylindrical portion of said valving means for rotating said valving means whereby said groove and pin efiect a camming action to provide longitudinal adjustment of said valving means upon the rotation thereof and means for locking said spray nozzle in azimuth at any predetermined angle, said latter means including a flanged plug receivable in said threaded opening of said stern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 294,675 Richter Mar. 4, 1884 801,210 Burnett Oct. 10, 1905 987,413 Stow et al. Mar. 21, 1911 1,521,792 Roach Jan. 6, 1925 1,656,417 Browning Jan. 17, 1928 2,519,737 Brassington et a1. Aug. 22, 1950 2,552,445 Nielsen May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,061/26 Australia Oct. 1, 1927 8,404/27 Australia July 16, 1928 

